Christoph Willibald Gluck

Christoph Willibald Gluck
Bohemian composer. He was long in Habsburg service in Vienna. More successfully than any of his contemporaries, he translated the widespread agitation for reform of opera and theatrical dance on the part of European intellectuals into actual works for the stage, first in pantomime ballets and Italian serious operas for Vienna and then in operas of various sorts for Paris.

His long experience in setting Metastasian drammi per musica and his work in Vienna as music director of the Burgtheater (court theatre) were not without utility in these more innovative efforts.